SAN DIEGO, June 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- OncoSec
Medical Incorporated ("OncoSec") (NASDAQ: ONCS), a company
developing DNA-based intratumoral cancer immunotherapies, presented
recent advancements in electroporation (gene electro-transfer) for
immunotherapy in two poster presentations at the American
Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Special Conference on
Engineering and Physical Sciences in Oncology in Boston. New data related to OncoSec's
Tissue-based Real-time Adaptive Controlled Electroporation (TRACE™)
technology and helical integrated applicator (Helix™) showed that
these technologies have the potential to reduce procedural
frequency as well as enhance usability by physicians. Together,
these novel technologies may improve a patient's experience to gene
electro-transfer and improve therapeutic outcomes, which will help
broaden the adoption of gene-electro transfer technologies in
immunotherapy.
The TRACE™ and Helix™ technologies are central to OncoSec's
next-generation device development and represent a significant
advancement in electroporation technology. Existing electroporation
systems apply fixed pulses, independent of tissue conditions, that
are typically optimized by heuristics. The new TRACE™ technology
brings together OncoSec's research and engineering efforts to adapt
the pulses to tissue conditions in real time and detect when
optimal conditions have been achieved to complete electroporation
treatment. The new Helix™ applicator integrates engineering
advancements to function synergistically with the TRACE™
technology. The TRACE™ and Helix™ technologies have the potential
to improve delivery of new therapeutic agents and access a variety
of new tumor types and locations.
"The new TRACE™ and Helix™ technologies are a testament to the
expertise of OncoSec's engineering and research teams," said
Punit Dhillon, President and CEO.
"Electroporation is a powerful gene delivery tool, and we believe
that these novel technologies are a breakthrough in the field of
electroporation therapy. As we look beyond the proof-of-concept
stage for our intratumoral immunotherapy programs, these
advancements are a major step forward in being able to consistently
deliver more advanced therapeutic agents with the potential to
target multiple facets of tumor immune subversion."
TRACE™ Technology
The poster presentation entitled
"Feedback Optimized Gene Electro-Transfer for Immunotherapy"
highlights the efficacy of modulating pulse durations in real-time
for the intratumoral delivery of plasmid DNA in mouse tumor models.
OncoSec's generator incorporating TRACE™ technology was used to
perform electroporation with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
feedback operating in a closed-loop configuration to optimize each
pulse duration in real-time.
Preclinical studies demonstrated electroporation integrating
TRACE™ technology is capable of achieving maximum expression of
reporter genes with minimal energy delivered. Based on these
findings, it is hypothesized that this technology will minimize
collateral cell death and reduce treatment variability observed in
patients. These findings represent a significant advancement in
gene electro-transfer, because retaining the viability of
transfected cells is critical for treatment success.
Helix™ Technology
The poster presentation entitled "A
Novel Applicator for Endoscopic Gene Electro-Transfer" discusses
the role of DNA dispersion during intratumoral gene delivery and
its impact on gene electro-transfer efficiency. OncoSec researchers
developed a single-helical injection needle that anchors the target
tissue and delivers plasmid DNA. This achieves delivery of the
plasmid to an area three times larger than that of a standard
injection needle. Helix™ combines the helical needle with
electroporation electrodes on a single applicator, which may
enhance gene delivery by increasing surface area for
tissue-DNA-electroporation interaction.
The Helix™ technology showed enhanced efficacy of IL-12 plasmid
electroporation in an aggressive B16.F10 mouse melanoma model,
significantly reducing tumor growth rate and increasing survival
after a single treatment. The anchoring associated with the helical
needle and the close proximity of the electrodes ensures
co-localization of the electric field with the injected plasmid DNA
as well as repeatable treatment of malleable tumors. In addition,
the compact design of the electrodes and helical needle could make
the applicator compatible with standard medical devices, including
trocars, endoscopes, and other catheter based devices, thus
enabling the application of intratumoral gene immunotherapy to a
broad range of deep tissue cancers.
The poster presentations are available in the Publications
section of OncoSec's website.
About OncoSec Medical Incorporated
OncoSec is a
biotechnology company developing DNA-based intratumoral
immunotherapies with an investigational technology, ImmunoPulse™,
for the treatment of cancer. ImmunoPulse™ is designed to enhance
the local delivery and uptake of DNA-based immune-targeting agents,
such as IL-12. In Phase I and II clinical trials, ImmunoPulse™
IL-12 has demonstrated a favorable safety profile and evidence of
anti-tumor activity in the treatment of various solid tumors and
has shown the potential to reach beyond the site of local treatment
to initiate a systemic immune response. OncoSec's lead program,
ImmunoPulse™ IL-12, is currently in clinical development for
several indications, including metastatic melanoma and
triple-negative breast cancer. In addition to ImmunoPulse™ IL-12,
the Company is also identifying and developing new immune-targeting
agents for use with the ImmunoPulse™ platform. For more
information, please visit www.oncosec.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be
identified by words such as "potential," "may," "will," "can,"
"could," "understand," "intended," "designed," and similar
references to future periods.
Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor
assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based on
management's current preliminary expectations and are subject to
risks and uncertainties, which may cause our results to differ
materially and adversely from the statements contained herein.
Potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ from those predicted include, among others, the
following: uncertainties inherent in pre-clinical studies and
clinical trials, such as the ability to enroll patients in clinical
trials and the risk of adverse events; unexpected new data, safety
and technical issues; our ability to raise additional funding
necessary to fund continued operations; and the other factors
discussed in OncoSec's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. OncoSec
disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements
to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date
they are made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events.
CONTACT:
Mary
Marolla
OncoSec Medical Incorporated
855-662-6732
media@oncosec.com
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SOURCE OncoSec Medical Incorporated